Beefing up half-ton for gooseneck

[Negligence]

I received confirmation that a gooseneck hitch does not void warranty on a vehicle, and that as long as I remove the bed liner and replace it when I return the lease (covering the hitch holes), it's perfectly acceptable. No welding required. I will be getting this in writing in the coming days.

I'm quite convinced that the Ram can do the job, but I know I am pushing the limits of the truck. I will just be loading properly and keeping well-aware of what weight I'm adding to the truck or trailer. The lease on our second vehicle is due in June, so I might look to purchase another truck at that time. Since the trailer will be in the shop for the next few months I've got some time to think.

My biggest concern because I am inexperienced with goosenecks is how to figure out tongue weight (too much, too little, etc?). I've read that it should be approximately 25% of the total weight. Any tips or advice on this?

 

[Builder]

Knowing this, I think all we can offer to do is offer to help you the best we can. Since you have no experience with a 5th wheel, I can only wish you luck. I think you may be ready for quite an experience.

You asked about tongue weight being 25%. If your loaded trailer were 10,000lbs, then your tongue weight would be 2,500lbs. That sounds high for a 1/2 ton, especially since the 5th whl hitch already taking 200 lbs. off your payload.

I haven't got a clue what your payload is after you fuel-up and add the 5th whl hitch. Let's say it's 1,700 lbs. You'd be 800 lbs overweight on GVWR of the truck with a 2,500lbs tongue weight.

If, as in my example, you had a max 1,700 lbs allowable tongue weight and your trailer was 10,000lbs , then you'd be at 17% tongue weight.

Be safe man. Best of luck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Today I will haul about 200 gallons of water to fill our swimming pool. I'm guessing that will overload my truck by at least 500 pounds. I've been hauling a load every day for a week now. I don't feel I'm being unsafe.

Water only weighs 8# per gallon so 200 gallons is only 1,600# and if the tank is the average water tank its 150# or so. Not that much weight, even for a 1/2 ton. Most new 1/2 tons have 1,500# to 2,000# of payload.

Chris

 

[RobertN]

FWIW, A friend of mine pulled a 25' 5th wheel travel trailer with an early 90's Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4. He did some add-a-leafs, and wired for full brakes and electrical. It handled it ok. He did mostly short trips with it. He took his time, went slow, and it worked ok. Really really slow on the hills. The tow weight was not so bad, but the 5th wheel/goose neck pin weight was pretty heavy for the truck. Kept it out of OD.

On the highway, he was alway in the slow lane with the big rigs(Calif has a 55mph towing limit on all vehicles anyways).

He did that for a year, before moving to a Cummins Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4. That was night and day difference. Hardly knew it was behind the truck. Stopped, started, pulled totally different.

 

[RobertN]

Water only weighs 8# per gallon so 200 gallons is only 1,600# and if the tank is the average water tank its 150# or so. Not that much weight, even for a 1/2 ton. Most new 1/2 tons have 1,500# to 2,000# of payload.

Chris

Worst part is if the tank is not full; any slosh will move the truck all over the place. Baffled tank is nice...

 

[dodge man]

My bad, I'm hauling about 260 gallons. I did the math and it comes out to about 2000lbs. It a little over a 300 gallon tank, and it does slosh around. Its more annoying than anything else. I'd like to fill it up but another $0.25 in the machine at the water plant would overflow it and it would be that much more weight for my truck.

 

[Crash101]

I received confirmation that a gooseneck hitch does not void warranty on a vehicle, and that as long as I remove the bed liner and replace it when I return the lease (covering the hitch holes), it's perfectly acceptable. No welding required. I will be getting this in writing in the coming days.

I'm quite convinced that the Ram can do the job, but I know I am pushing the limits of the truck. I will just be loading properly and keeping well-aware of what weight I'm adding to the truck or trailer. The lease on our second vehicle is due in June, so I might look to purchase another truck at that time. Since the trailer will be in the shop for the next few months I've got some time to think.

My biggest concern because I am inexperienced with goosenecks is how to figure out tongue weight (too much, too little, etc?). I've read that it should be approximately 25% of the total weight. Any tips or advice on this?

You are quite convinced that the ram will do the job, yet you don't know the hauling capability of the ram neither do you have any idea what the trailer pin weight will be, especially loaded with 2 horses. You're willing to listen to bad advice suggesting the load will be around 25 percent. Take a look at that trailer. The weight is felt at only 2 places. At the centerline between the axles, and on the hitch. Look at the axle placement and try to imagine what percentage of the weight will be on that centerline with those horses loaded. Will the trailer weigh as little as 5000 pounds empty? Will 2 horses take it over 7000 pounds? More? You will quite likely be hauling in the bed of that half ton truck closer to 35% of the weight, perhaps more. What's 35 to 40% of 7000 pounds? What is the truck's payload with passengers, fuel and provisions?
If you're convinced that you're ok to travel long distances at highway speeds with that load, you would do well to reconsider who you take advice from.

 

[Duffster]

You are quite convinced that the ram will do the job, yet you don't know the hauling capability of the ram neither do you have any idea what the trailer pin weight will be, especially loaded with 2 horses. You're willing to listen to bad advice suggesting the load will be around 25 percent. Take a look at that trailer. The weight is felt at only 2 places. At the centerline between the axles, and on the hitch. Look at the axle placement and try to imagine what percentage of the weight will be on that centerline with those horses loaded. Will the trailer weigh as little as 5000 pounds empty? Will 2 horses take it over 7000 pounds? More? You will quite likely be hauling in the bed of that half ton truck closer to 35% of the weight, perhaps more. What's 35 to 40% of 7000 pounds? What is the truck's payload with passengers, fuel and provisions?
If you're convinced that you're ok to travel long distances at highway speeds with that load, you would do well to reconsider who you take advice from.

Wow, 40% tongue weight on a 7k trailer would put my F350 over GVW LOL

 

[Builder]

I'm only going to offer one more piece of advice given to me by an experienced trucker I know , then I will exit this thread.
Whenever safety or capability is in question, err towards the safer option.

While it is true that with the 1/2 ton, none of us know exactly what tongue weight will end up being or what (if any) least common denominator will be exceeded. However, we all know a heavier duty truck with the O/P's trailer is almost certain to not exceed any limitations of said heavier truck.

Maybe the only answer would be to ask the seller of the trailer if the O/P can first try it for a few days to make sure no capacities are exceeded, with the right to return the trailer if they are. Granted, he might end up having to install then remove 5th whl hitch if it turns out the trailer & contents are too heavy.

 

[Crash101]

Duffster:

You saw the picture of the trailer. Although it didn't show the rear it appears to show a long distance from the wheels to the pin (perhaps 80%?) who knows.
This is what was mentioned as the load.
"two horses (2400lbs combined), two foals, passengers and cargo".
If those horses are placed forward of the axles as probably will be, is it difficult to imagine 35% or more on the front pin?
Sorry for being so negative here, I had some questions about my Quick Bite coupler and had just read of some accident reports on their website's News Articles section, ref. QuickBiteCouplers.com / New Revolutionary Trailer Coupler makes Trailer Towing Safe, Secure, Easierfuseaction=browse&pageid=37 when I came across this original question.
According to most of who have actually weighed a 4 wheel drive 06 Dodge truck the payload is around a thousand pounds, plus or minus. Motor Trend quoted 1040 pounds ref. 2006 Dodge Ram 1500 - 2006 Truck of the Year Testing & Review - Truck Trend
As Builder (one of the contributors to this forum that I have much respect) has said, I will not say anything more about this.
Pulling and towing recreational loads are a privilege, and one of which should be done with knowledge of the loads and respect of the limitations.
We owe nothing less to the others we share that road with.